A new year that clings to old promises

We began last year with curtains lifted off a dismal reality of Indian society—an overwhelming preference for the boy child, and we are ending this one with our most sordid truth lying exposed—that girls and women in India are unsafe, both in their homes and outside. From womb to tomb, 2011-12 (like most other years) have marked a struggle for the Indian woman.

December has witnessed a public outpouring of grief and anger after a 23-year-old girl was gang raped in the capital city of Delhi and subsequently died. Like her, a woman is raped in India every 20 minutes. And these are sadly, only the women who make it to a police station. Last year we were protesting another shameful statistic—there are only 914 girls in the 0-6 age-group for every 1,000 boys, a child sex ratio that hints of elimination of girl children even before they come to life.

As we approach 2013, I hope to see the sloganeering and finger-pointing translate into action that has been long overdue in the Indian republic. The government has now set up a committee under former Chief Justice of India, Justice (retd) J S Verma which is inviting suggestions on amending criminal laws related to the safety and security of women.

But what about many long-forgotten committees, commitments and legislations?

Former Mumbai police commissioner Julio Ribeiro hit the nail on the head when he recently told me that we were skirting some crucial issues. Police reforms was one such, he pointed out. How many of us know that the police force is governed by an archaic legislation dating way back to 1861 and only 13 states have brought in subsequent amendments for its forces? None of this is new. The Supreme Court had nearly six years ago directed the government to implement recommendations of a Soli Sorabjee Committee which drew up a model act to strengthen the police force, make it more accountable and efficient. This included not just much-needed autonomy to the police from political pressure but also setting up of Police Complaint Authorities in each district and state where citizens aggrieved with the cops could go. An independent audit of police stations was also in order. If such bodies were effectively in place, we could have perhaps saved the life of an 18-year-old gang rape victim from Patiala district who committed suicide this week after police allegedly refused to take down her complaint for 14 days. Walking into a police station is a crucial wheel in fighting crimes and not much is likely to change until women can feel secure doing that.

Take another existing clause—a provision meant to alleviate the suffering of victims of crime. Section 357 A of the Criminal Procedure Code was amended in 2008 with a provision requiring independent states to financially compensate victims of violent crimes. Even Delhi notified the provision only in February, over three years after it was passed. Reports say only four of the 635 rape victims in the capital have been given compensation this year. Noted lawyer Flavia Agnes says many states like Maharashtra shirk off their responsibility to compensate victims claiming that they are in the process of devising mechanisms to prevent misuse. To me, that reflects the apathy that makes our system.

It is heartening to hear that fast-track courts will be initiated in some states for speedy justice for crimes against women. But how about much-pending reforms of the entire judicial system in India? Pendency in the Supreme Court has increased by over 150% in the past decade. It is high time we bring in more judges, incentivize legal aid lawyers and work towards time-bound disposal of all cases.

There is no denying that much more needs to be achieved—and not merely within formal institutions. Mindsets need to be changed within our homes, schools and workplaces. Engaging and not alienating men in this process is equally important.

Protestors spilling out on streets across the country each have their own demands and expectations. The past year collectively let us women down bitterly. Let’s hope 2013 will see words turned into action.

DISCLAIMER : Views expressed above are the author's own.

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Author

Madhavi Rajadhyaksha is currently Manager-Advocacy with Janaagraha Centre for Citizenship & Democracy, a Bangalore-based organization that works on improving the quality of life in urban India. She was previously an Assistant Editor with The Times of India and wrote on a wide spectrum of development-related issues. She strayed into journalism charged with idealism to quench her curious mind and love for writing. After seven years in the news industry, she broke away to pursue her interest in urban policy research, currently her mainstay. She is formally trained in development studies and journalism.

Madhavi Rajadhyaksha is currently Manager-Advocacy with Janaagraha Centre for Citizenship & Democracy, a Bangalore-based organization that works on improvin. . .